Getting braces is an exciting and transformative journey. But along with the new hardware comes a burning question – what can you eat with braces? Don’t worry; you won’t have to give up delicious treats – you’ll just have to get a bit more creative with your diet. Our team at Aspire Dental Wellness has compiled the ultimate list of foods you can eat with braces.
What Foods Can You Eat With Braces? A Quick Overview
Congratulations! Your journey to comfortable and picture-perfect teeth alignment has begun! However, the first question that comes to mind is – what foods can I eat with braces? For the first few days, stick to soft, gentle foods to keep things comfortable.
Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, soups, and softer pasta are excellent options. You can also enjoy soft fruits like bananas and avocados, along with steamed veggies. As you get more comfortable, you can expand your menu with more variety, but sticky and hard-to-chew foods are a no-no.
Why Is It Important to Know What Food You Can Eat With Braces?
Braces may be able to handle a lot, but they’re also made up of intricate, delicate parts that require some special attention. Certain foods can cause quite a bit of damage, and the last thing you want is to create an unnecessary detour on the road to your smile makeover.
On top of that, sticky treats can leave food particles wedged between brackets and wires, making your usual oral hygiene routine that much more difficult. The plaque can quickly build up, and that’s the first common enemy of healthy teeth. Therefore, knowing what to eat (and what to skip) is vital to keeping your dental health in check!
What Can You Eat With Braces? The First Few Days
For the first few days after getting this orthodontic device, you might be dealing with sensitive teeth. If everything feels normal, more power to you, but it’s still a good idea to stick to soft, gentle foods. If you’ve ever had your wisdom teeth removed, it’s kind of the same menu. Here are some delicious recommendations:
- Scrambled eggs – full of protein and a nutritional powerhouse overall,
- Oatmeal – it’s best to go for instant oats, as they’re the softest,
- Soup – just make sure it’s not too hot,
- Mashed potatoes – creamy and smooth, they’ve got plenty of nutrients,
- Pasta – skip the al dente and go for the almost-mushy kind,
- Soft fruits and vegetables – bananas, avocados, and steamed veggies are perfect,
- Yogurt – packed with probiotics, it’s the snack of all snacks,
- Ice cream – just make sure it’s free of hard chunks or nuts.
Expand Your Menu as You Get More Comfortable
As you’re getting used to your new braces, you can start to expand the diet and enjoy more variety. Soft bread, tortillas, and wraps make great choices, as do dairy. Aside from yogurt, you can introduce soft cheeses and smooth dips without risking any damage to your orthodontic device.
While pasta is more than enough to please some of us, you can also try rice and noodles – just make sure to skip the hard-to-chew options. Even meats can stay on the menu if you go for tender cuts, such as roasted chicken and deli slices.
And, of course, there’s always room for a sweet treat! Jelly, smoothies, and milkshakes are perfect, but try not to go overboard with the sugar intake!
What Foods Should Be Avoided at All Costs?
Knowing what to eat is just as important as knowing what to steer clear of. This forbidden menu is mostly composed of hard and sticky foods that could damage your orthodontic device and cause plaque build-up. Here are a few things you should avoid:
- Hard or sticky candy,
- Popcorn,
- Potato chips,
- Nuts,
- Crunchy fruits and vegetables.
A Few Additional Tips From Our Dentist in Charlotte, NC
Now that you know what to indulge in and what to avoid, there are a couple of other things you should keep in mind. First off, if your mouth is feeling sensitive, cut the food into small pieces so you don’t have to chew as much. As you’re enjoying your meal, be mindful about chewing – slow down and do it gently, no matter how delicious it is.
Also, avoid extreme temperatures – this goes for both hot and ice-cold foods and beverages. After you’re done, swish water around your mouth to make sure nothing gets stuck.
It’s a good idea to get specialized tools for braces and invest in a water flosser as well – these can be a lifesaver when it comes to those hard-to-reach parts. Above all, listen to your Charlotte dentist in SouthPark! They’ve got all the insight you could possibly need.
Aspire Dental Wellness Offers More Comfortable Alternatives
We get it – traditional braces can be a bit restrictive, especially when it comes to enjoying your favorite foods. You’ll probably have to wear them for one to three years, and that’s not exactly ideal, to say the least.
That’s why our team, led by Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, offers comfortable, flexible alternatives like OrthoFX and other clear aligners. They’re entirely removable, meaning you can enjoy all your favorite foods without a single change to your diet!
Moreover, we offer nighttime aligners as well, literally perfecting your smile while you’re enjoying a peaceful slumber. It might sound like a dream, but with the help of our practice of general dentistry in Charlotte, NC, it’s entirely possible.
Align Your Smile and Keep the Flavor With Our Charlotte, NC, Dentist
At Aspire Dental Wellness, we’re all about finding the option that best fits your lifestyle and unique smile. Whether it’s traditional braces or clear aligners such as OrthoFX, our team will make sure your smile upgrade is at its most comfortable. Contact us today to find out more about our options, and let’s keep the journey toward your smile as delicious as it is transformative!
